Comments on: $150 Million in Project Funding in Hampton Roads http://smartregion.org/2009/09/150-million-in-project-funding-in-hampton-roads/ Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:55:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: HR Partnership http://smartregion.org/2009/09/150-million-in-project-funding-in-hampton-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-1061 HR Partnership Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:18:56 +0000 http://smartregion.org/?p=2168#comment-1061 Va. lags in spending stimulus money for roads By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilot © October 3, 2009 "Speed should not be the only criteria," Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer said. "We've met every federal requirement and deadline. "We made a deliberate choice to play for the long haul." Homer said that while money is being put into quick repaving projects, as in most states, there also is an effort to select other projects that provide "lasting economic benefit." Those include highway widening projects into Fort Eustis on the Peninsula, Fort Lee in Petersburg and Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia, where there are prospects for job growth. "Those are not going to move as fast as laying down 2 inches of asphalt on top of an existing roadway," Homer said. Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Jeff Caldwell said some states have progressed faster because they used federal stimulus money to replace state funding on existing projects. "We started from scratch on our projects so we're truly creating new jobs," said Gordon Hickey, Kaine's spokesman. Read the full story at http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/va-lags-spending-stimulus-money-roads Va. lags in spending stimulus money for roads

By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 3, 2009

“Speed should not be the only criteria,” Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer said. “We’ve met every federal requirement and deadline.

“We made a deliberate choice to play for the long haul.”

Homer said that while money is being put into quick repaving projects, as in most states, there also is an effort to select other projects that provide “lasting economic benefit.”

Those include highway widening projects into Fort Eustis on the Peninsula, Fort Lee in Petersburg and Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia, where there are prospects for job growth.

“Those are not going to move as fast as laying down 2 inches of asphalt on top of an existing roadway,” Homer said.

Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Jeff Caldwell said some states have progressed faster because they used federal stimulus money to replace state funding on existing projects.

“We started from scratch on our projects so we’re truly creating new jobs,” said Gordon Hickey, Kaine’s spokesman.

Read the full story at
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/va-lags-spending-stimulus-money-roads

]]> By: HR Partnership http://smartregion.org/2009/09/150-million-in-project-funding-in-hampton-roads/comment-page-1/#comment-1056 HR Partnership Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:51:10 +0000 http://smartregion.org/?p=2168#comment-1056 Virginia Ranks Last for Spending Transportation Stimulus Money By Debbie Messina The Virginian-Pilot © October 2, 2009 Virginia ranks dead last among states for spending transportation stimulus money, having used only 16.5 percent of its federal award through August. The state and Gov. Timothy Kaine were scolded for the poor performance in a letter dated Oct. 1 from Congressman James L. Oberstar, chairman of the House transportation and infrastructure committee. Nationally, 42.7 percent of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding has been spent. “I strongly urge you to refocus your efforts to implement the Recovery Act and use the available funds to create and sustain family-wage jobs,” Oberstar’s letter stated. “These jobs are critical to Virginia’s and the nation’s long-term economic growth.” Virginia Ranks Last for Spending Transportation Stimulus Money

By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 2, 2009

Virginia ranks dead last among states for spending transportation stimulus money, having used only 16.5 percent of its federal award through August.

The state and Gov. Timothy Kaine were scolded for the poor performance in a letter dated Oct. 1 from Congressman James L. Oberstar, chairman of the House transportation and infrastructure committee.

Nationally, 42.7 percent of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding has been spent.

“I strongly urge you to refocus your efforts to implement the Recovery Act and use the available funds to create and sustain family-wage jobs,” Oberstar’s letter stated. “These jobs are critical to Virginia’s and the nation’s long-term economic growth.”

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